MCSO arrests 44 employees in early morning raid

PHOENIX -- Maricopa County sheriff's deputies arrested 44 employees in connection with an early morning raid on a Phoenix paper plant.

Employee: Too much force

MCSO anticipates 100+ arrests in early morning raid - Maricopa County sheriff's deputies are anticipating making more than 100 arrests in connection with an early morning raid on a Phoenix paper plant.

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Armed with a search warrant, about 100 deputies and posse members converged on Royal Paper Converting Company near 17th Avenue and Fillmore Street at about 6 a.m.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said deputies received information that managers were knowingly hiring illegal immigrants who may be using false identification documents to secure employment.

Arpaio said 102 people were targeted in the investigation. So far, 44 employees have been arrested. Thirty-five of them will be booked into jail on state felony charges of ID theft.

The remaining employees will be processed and sent to Immigration and Customs Enforcement where they will be subject to deportation.

Arpaio said the investigation will continue as deputies attempt to locate the remaining suspects. Deputies took employment records, payroll records, computers and other documents during the raid.

This is the second time in two years that deputies have raided the business.

The first raid occurred in March 2008 and netted four arrests of employees for ID theft.